By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The first purpose of the annual Young Life Banquet Nov. 7 was to celebrate 10 years in the Shelby-Tipton counties areas. The 2017 theme was A Place at the Table: Celebrating 10 Years of Shelby-Tipton County Young Life held in Millington’s Crosspointe Church. The largest gathering in the event’s history started with a video commemorating the arrival of Young Life to Millington Central High School. Since the idea inspired by Millington residents Dick and Nancy Barnhart to bring the longtime program to the area, Young Life is now at MCHS, Tipton-Rosemark Academy and Arlington High School. TRA joined Young Life 2015 under the guidance of Justin Cole. Arlington’s program kicked off a couple of weeks ago with Wes Wagner. But the longest running school working along with the spiritual-building organization was MCHS. It was 10 years ago Jeremy Crabtree embarked on an uncomfortable journey into the hallways, classrooms, gymnasiums, locker rooms, stands and hangouts of the MCHS student body. “The kids perception of who I was, was an undercover cop,” Crabtree recalled. “It was kind of hard to get kids to talk to me. But after two or four weeks they kind of figured out that’s not why I was there. That’s where it kind of really began.” Young Life is a non-denominational, Christian outreach ministry that involves caring adults working with high school students to build relationships and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through their lives first, then words. The organization does this by going to where the children are like the high school. Counselors can be found at the students’ work, a basketball court, football stadium or even coffee shops. Young LIfe also has weekly meetings during the school year called “Club” that are a chance to have a good time. Everyone is welcome at Young Life. When it began in Millington 10 years ago, then Tina Monroe, now Tina Wilkerson Assistant Principal at E.E. Jeter, was the first volunteer leader. Joe and Tina Baltensperger supplied their home as a Club in the early days. Under the guidance of Crabtree and others, the MCHS Young Life grew from about 5 children attending to now dozens. Now the MCHS Young Life is under the leadership of Area Director Luke Sadler,going on 7 years. The Club now meets at “The Green Top” of Commodore Villages. Sadler along with his wife and Mission Leader Jessica have worked countless hours attending games, events and awards banquets encouraging the children. They teach and express the Word in addition to Young Life events. Then in their spare time the Sadlers and other Young Life organizers are busy raising funds to support the efforts of Young Life. At this years banquet the Platinum Sponsors were Bethany K. Huffman CPA and Reed Family Dentistry; Gold Sponsors were An I.V. LLC and Patriot Bank; Silver Sponsors Splash Plumbing, Mid-South Veterinary Services, Boatwright Pharmacy and Commodore Villages; Bronze Sponsors Superior Home Products. The second purpose of the banquet was to announce the 2017-18 budget for Young Life operations in Shelby-Tipton. With executive services, direct ministry and staff compensation, the total budget came out to $225,600. Entering the night Young Life raised $98,500. With plans to expand to other schools like Bartlett, Bolton, Brighton, Covington, Munford and the middle school program called Wyldlife. Sadler addressed the audience encouraging them to give so Young Life can continue to share Christ and His message with youth through Go! Build! Earn! And Share!. The local committee and table hosts were Bob and Dianne Baker, Joe and Tina Baltensperger, Dick and Nancy Barnhart, Jessica Carfield, Jason and Susan Dupree, Mike and Linda Evans, Robyn Hornsby Soctt and Angie Percer, Luke and Jessica Sadler, Jesse and Carol Smith, Zane and Becca Adams, Bob and Dianne Baker, Kyle and Caitlin Bomar, Justin and Kellie Cole, Jon and Lee Anne Crisp, Larry and Leanna Dagen, Bart and Melia Garey, Melvin and Chasity Guy, Chuck and Vicki Halford, Chad and Mindi Harkness, Hank and Jenny Hawkins, Paul and Carole McCullough, Thomas and Mary McGhee, Chris and Lynn Park, Cary and Lalania Vaughn and Wesley Wagner.
Young Life in the North Shelby and South Tipton County area currently only has volunteers at Millington Central High School and Tipton-Rosemark Academy, but children from all area high schools are welcome to attend. Would you like Young Life at your school or to donate, call at 901-215-4481 or e-mail at [email protected].
